not my tweet or my fic (and there’s a good chance of this comment being a bot) but yeah, don’t do this. sure, some writers wouldn’t mind having fanfics (or direct continuation) of their fanfics written by someone else. some may even be thrilled and happy. but the fandom etiquette is that if you want to write a fanfic or a continuation of someone’s fanfic, YOU POLITELY ASK THE WRITER FOR THEIR PERMISSION. not their readers.
also 5 months isn’t long at all. 5 months is 5 minutes when it comes to fanfics. I’ve waited years for my favorite fics to get updated (one of my favorite fanfics was updated by the author after 13 years) and I’ve never said anything to them about “it’s been ___ years, I don’t think it will get updated anymore”. because another fandom / fanfic etiquette is that fanfic writers write for free in their free time, they don’t owe you anything. maybe they will update one day. maybe they won’t. if you want your favorite fic to get updated, you comment something like “this is good!! I’m excited for what happens next” and maybe your positive comment will motivate the author to update. but you don’t say “it’s been ___ months or years”. fanfics writers write for themselves and their own enjoyment. they’re just kind enough to let you read their works for free. stop being rude and entitled to fanfic writers.
I'm a little scared, in a way, haha. What when Dir stops and what do I listen to then? I have nothing else I actively listen to, do you?
It's inevitable, and if I were to guess, I think it will happen because one of them won't be able to carry on any longer, so they would probably feel a lot of shame as well. There's nothing we can do about it or to prepare for that eventuality... As you asked, there isn't any band out there like Dir en grey's sound and stage presence. I listen to some other stuff but not close to Dir en grey's genre, and it's not lovable enough for me to travel halfway around the world to see those other artists. I'd say I recently renewed my interest in Lady Gaga, went to see her and am actively listening to some of her songs, but not to the same level as Dir en grey or sukekiyo at all.
So yeah... The only thing we can do is to cherish the moments we have with them, appreciate what they're still releasing. Support them however we can.
It will be a sad, sad day. I hope there will be as many tributes as some of the other bands have gotten.
I'm really not apologetic with this hard stance, either. I'm very firm on this, too. My art has already been used, twice now by people who did not ask my permission, so they could "enhance it" with Gen AI. I really see nothing good coming from generative AI except poor excuses for laziness and glorified search engines that don't work.
This is an important time to make the distinction between generative and analytical AI. Analytical AI is what AI is supposed to be for. It’s all the boring stuff like analyzing data for patterns. For example, you probably heard about that AI that was designed to tell apart bear claws from croissants for a bakery that is now being used to detect cancer cells with greater accuracy than human doctors. That’s an analytical AI, while everything mentioned in the post above is generative AI. (Which sucks!)
Based on this request: Do you think I could request one where the reader is engaged to Boromir but she and Faramir are in love? Denethor doesn’t care and expects Boromir to marry her. Angsty with whatever ending you choose??
Here you are, lovely! I apologize for the wait. Familiar Characters are NOT mine! They belong to Tolkien.
Warnings: Angst. Mentions of death.
Pairings: Faramir x fem!reader
Boromir and his brother froze, spoons halfway to their lips. Almost in unison, the two brothers turned their heads to gape at their father. “Forgive me, Father,” Boromir replies as soon as he regains his wits, “I must have misheard. Surely you do not mean that I am betrothed?” Denethor smiled at his eldest. “I do. To Lady Y/N, of course.” Boromir let his eyes flick to Faramir for a moment. He’d always thought, if a marriage was arranged between you and one of Denethor’s sons, it would be Faramir.
The brothers had known you since childhood. The three of you did everything possible together. As you grew up, Boromir, the eldest of the three of you, never showed interest in marriage and never felt more for you than brotherly love. Faramir, on the other hand, was a completely different story. Everyone who was ever in the same room as you and Faramir could tell he was hopelessly in love with you from the time he knew what a romantic love was. He was utterly smitten with you.
“Father, perhaps we should reconsider. After all, there has been no talk of courtship or the like with Lady Y/N. It is possible that she is hoping for a proposal from another.” Boromir tried to keep his gaze off Faramir. If Denethor suspected Faramir’s feelings, he absolutely would push for this wedding even harder. For some reason, the Steward of Gondor did not want his younger son to be happy.
“Then she hopes in vain. It has been decided,” Denethor stated with no room for argument. Boromir tried anyway. “Father, I am meant to depart for Rivendell in a fortnight. Surely that isn’t enough time to plan and host a wedding.” Denethor’s brow rose. “Then you will wed when you return. I cannot imagine why you are fighting me on this, my son. Lady Y/N is a lovely young lady and will make a fine wife.”
From the corner of his eye, Boromir saw his brother rise from the table. Denethor paid no mind, as per usual, but Boromir turned to face Faramir. Faramir offered a weak smile. “I’ve lost my appetite.” With that, he left the dining hall. Boromir knew he was most likely heading to find you so he remained where he was for now.
For the next few minutes, Boromir did his best to convince his father that the marriage was a bad idea. Denethor wouldn’t budge. The man refused to hear any of Boromir’s arguments. By the time Boromir left the dining hall himself, he was beyond frustrated. He made his way down the corridors, asking guards if they had seen Faramir. It wasn’t until the fifth or sixth guard that he finally was able to locate his younger brother.
When Boromir found Faramir, it was as he’d suspected. He was with you. Boromir didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but hearing your voice so broken made him pause. He hardly ever heard you upset. “I knew I’d have to m-marry one day, but this is just cruel, Faramir.”
“My brother is not cruel, my love,” came Faramir’s calm voice and you sniffled. “I know he isn’t. He is more of a brother to me than anything else. It is your father who is cruel! Surely he must know how we feel and yet he does this! The man has no heart! I don’t want to marry Boromir. I only want to marry you.” Boromir watched as Faramir held you close, resting his cheek upon your head. It was that moment that made Boromir decide to reveal himself.
“And marry him, you shall.” You let out a little yelp of surprise and Boromir fought back a laugh at how much you sounded like a small dog. Faramir groaned when your head hit his face, causing you to apologize. Boromir chuckled at that. The two of you were good together. Anyone could see it. Well anyone except Denethor.
Once the chaos of the moment died down, you turned to Boromir again. “What do you mean I will marry Faramir? Our fathers have already decided.” Boromir sighed and nodded. “They have, However, I am due to leave for Rivendell in a fortnight. I will come up with a plan by the time I return. I see the love you have for my brother. I can’t marry you knowing how unhappy you both would be.”
You exchanged a glance with Faramir as smiles came to both your faces. Without warning, you launched yourself at Boromir and hugged him. “Thank you,” you said, tears threatening to fall yet again. Boromir laughed as he pulled away to kiss your forehead. “Do not thank me. It is the least I could do to ensure the happiness of my brother and the woman I will happily call my sister-in-law. For now, we must play along with Father’s demands.”
*time skip Your POV*
Boromir left a fortnight later. A little while after that, Faramir received a message that Boromir would be away even longer as he was now going on a quest to save Middle Earth. As impatient as you were to marry, you knew that Boromir would be true to his word and would have a plan to break your betrothal when he returned. You never expected the circumstances of that plan would be so heartbreaking.
You held Faramir as he broke down. He’d been the one to find his brother floating lifelessly down the river. He had been the one to pull the boat carrying Boromir to shore. He held his brother as sobs wracked his body and you held him. It broke you to see your love this way, but at the same time, you understood. You were close to collapsing yourself. This wasn’t how you were supposed to get out of the marriage. Once Faramir was calm, the two of you made your way to Denethor to share the sad news.
For many moons after that, there was an air of tension and despair in Gondor. Denethor refused to speak to Faramir unless it was to yell or criticize him. You avoided Denethor as much as possible as well. He expected you to be absolutely crushed by Boromir’s death and you were, but not in the way a woman should be for her betrothed. You were far more worried about Faramir.
Faramir began pulling away from you. He rarely spoke to anyone unless necessary but he really seemed to be avoiding you. The love of your life no longer met with you in secret. No longer let his fingers linger against yours. He hardly looked you in the eye. Eventually, you had enough and confronted him. You’d wish you hadn’t.
You managed to catch him coming back late at night. He looked at you like a frightened animal for a moment as you let your feelings be known. Tears fell as you talked to him. He refused to meet your gaze until you finished, gasping out sobs. He hugged you briefly then pulled away. He muttered something. “What was that?” you asked tearfully.
“I can’t marry you,” he said a little bit louder. You swore your heart stopped. “W-What? You can’t mean that.” He nodded. “I do. With Boromir d-dead, I have new duties. I cannot go against my father’s wishes and marry my dead brother’s betrothed.” Your breathing picked up. “You’re serious?” He told you he was. “How could you do this? Since when have you ever cared about your duties? We were prepared to run away, Faramir.”
“I am so sorry, Y/N. I love you, truly I do. But I-I-” You held up a hand to stop him. “Don’t. Just don’t. I understand. I really do. Even now, you seek your father’s approval and validation. I realize I can never come before that.” You reached up and cupped his cheek. “I hope you’re happy with your choice.” Faramir gently grabbed your wrist and pressed a kiss to your palm. “I hope you find someone worthy of you,” he whispered. You scoffed and pulled your hand away.
“You were worthy of me.” You turned away and left the courtyard. Tears rolled down your cheeks and you didn’t notice Faramir watching you walk away, his own heart sinking to his feet.
